Edge protection fence with rotating panel

ABSTRACT

An edge protection fence for positioning adjacent to the edge of a floor of a building under construction. The fence comprises one or more support posts securable to a surface of the floor, and a fence panel rotatably mounted to the one or more support posts. The fence panel is rotatable about a horizontal axis between a deployed position and a stowed position. When in the deployed position the fence panel is generally vertically oriented and positioned adjacent to the edge of the floor of the building to provide edge protection. When in the stowed position the fence panel has been rotated away from the edge of the floor of the building by a predetermined distance.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/913,005 filed Oct. 9, 2019, and incorporates said provisional application by reference into this document as if fully set out at this point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates generally to edge protection devices for use on multi-story buildings and other applications where fall protection is required or warranted. In one particular embodiment the invention relates to a barrier fence or edge protection fencing system having a fence panel that is rotatable between a positon where the panel is deployed next to an exterior edge of a floor of a building under constructions, and a position where the fence panel is positioned a pre-determined distance back from the exterior edge of the floor under construction.

2. Description of the Related Art.

Many jurisdictions require edge protection around the exterior of a multi-story building during its construction. Such edge protection may take any one of a wide variety of different forms depending upon the nature of the building, the construction at hand, and the local health and safety laws of the applicable jurisdiction. One particular form of edge protection involves the placement of a series of fence or barrier panels around the perimeter of the individual floors of the building to help prevent people and objects from falling off.

Most edge protection fencing systems involve placing fencing panels immediately adjacent to the exterior perimeter of a particular floor. While such systems are generally efficient in preventing individuals and/or objects from falling off the side of a building, they can become cumbersome in instances where workers need to install services or structural elements at or in the vicinity of the exterior perimeter of the floor. In such cases, edge protection will at times be installed on the outside of buildings. However, doing so typically requires the installation of bracket screws on the outside of the slab to hold the edge protection in place. Posts and fence panels must then be installed. In addition to increased labour, the disadvantages of such a system include the fact that exterior cladding can be in the way or can be damaged.

In other cases it can become necessary to disassemble a perimeter fence, or a portion of it, perform the work necessary at the outer edge of the floor, and then reinstall the fence. The need to remove a fence panel and later reinstall it adds time and expense to the construction process. The added time and expense can be increased significantly where it is necessary to perform work at or near the perimeter edge of a floor around the entire building. In such cases each individual fence panel may need to be sequentially and separately removed and later reinstalled.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is therefore provided, in one embodiment, an edge protection fence for positioning adjacent to the edge of a floor of a building under construction, the fence comprising one or more support posts securable to a surface of the floor, and a fence panel rotatably mounted to the one or more support posts, wherein the fence panel is rotatable about a horizontal axis between a deployed position and a stowed position, when in the deployed position the fence panel being generally vertically oriented and positioned adjacent to the edge of the floor of the building to provide edge protection, when in the stowed position the fence panel having been rotated away from the edge of the floor of the building by a predetermined distance.

In a further embodiment there is provided an edge protection fence for positioning adjacent to the edge of a floor of a building under construction, the fence comprising one or more support posts securable to a surface of the floor; a fence panel rotatably mounted to the one or more support posts; and a net secured to the fence panel, wherein the fence panel is rotatable about a horizontal axis between a deployed position and a stowed position, when in the deployed position the fence panel being generally vertically oriented and positioned adjacent to the edge of the floor of the building to provide edge protection, when in the stowed position the fence panel having been rotated away from the edge of the floor of the building by a predetermined distance, and wherein when the fence panel is in the deployed position the net extending downwardly from the floor of the building under construction to direct debris that may fall from that floor onto an immediately adjacent lower floor.

The foregoing has outlined in broad terms some of the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventors to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not to be limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Finally, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further aspects of the invention are described in detail in the following examples and accompanying drawings.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show exemplary embodiments of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper front perspective view of a portion of a multi-story building under construction demonstrating the use of a partially assembled fence with a single horizontal rail in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an upper front perspective view of the multi-story building under construction demonstrating use of the assembled fence of FIG. 1 with a rotating panel stowed a pre-determined distance back from the exterior edge of the floor under construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an upper front perspective view of the multi-story building under construction demonstrating use of the assembled fence of FIG. 2, with additional support arms, and in the process of being rotated away from its stowed position towards an exterior of the building.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an alternate upper perspective view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an upper front perspective view of the multi-story building under construction demonstrating use of the assembled fence of FIG. 5 in a first deployed configuration and positioned next to the exterior edge of a floor of the building under construction.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of portion C of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an alternate upper perspective view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is an upper rear perspective view of the multi-story building under construction demonstrating use of the assembled fence of FIG. 9 with a second horizontal rail in the first deployed configuration.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of portion D of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an alternate upper perspective view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is an upper rear perspective view of the multi-story building under construction demonstrating use of the assembled fence of FIG. 13 in a second deployed configuration and utilizing multiple rotating panels.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of portion E of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an alternate perspective view of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is an upper rear perspective view of an alternate multi-story building under construction demonstrating use of the assembled fence of FIG. 17 in the second deployed configuration.

FIG. 22 is an alternate upper rear perspective view of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged side perspective view of portion F of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of portion G of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is an upper side perspective view of FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is an upper front perspective view of FIG. 22.

FIG. 27 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the alternate multi-story building under construction demonstrating the use of a fence with two horizontal rails in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of portion H of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an alternate rear perspective view of the multi-story building under construction and the fence of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a rear perspective view of a portion of a multi-story building under construction demonstrating the use of a fence with two horizontal rails in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged view of portion I of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is an alternate upper rear perspective view of a variation of FIG. 30.

FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of portion J of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of portion K of FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 is a side elevation view of FIG. 32.

FIG. 36 is an enlarged view of portion L of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of portion M of FIG. 35.

FIG. 38 is a side view of yet a further embodiment of the invention showing multiple assembled fences on adjacent floors with connecting netting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described hereinafter in detail, some specific embodiments of the instant invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments or algorithms so described.

With reference to the attached drawings, in FIGS. 1 to 20 there is generally shown a multi-story building 1 in a state of construction with multiple floors, each with an exterior edge 4. Between adjacent floors of building 1, such as between lower floor 2 and upper floor 3, is positioned a single length or section of an edge protection fence 10 with a rotating panel 14. It will be appreciated that, in practice, multiple sections of fence 10 will typically be positioned end to end along the perimeter of the particular floor in question.

In broad terms, fence 10 is comprised generally of one or more support posts 12, a rotating panel 14, and one or more support arms 16 that rotatably secure or connect rotating panel 14 to support post 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-20, support post 12 may be of a form that is secured solely to the upper surface of the floor in question, such as lower floor 2. Such a post is shown by way of example in FIG. 1 and is comprised generally of a vertical member 18, a base 20, and an angular support 22. In this embodiment, post base 20 would typically be secured to the floor structure through the use of bolts or other types of fasteners extending through the base and into the floor to securely hold the post in place. Vertical member 18 would extend upwardly but terminate before contacting the ceiling structure formed by the floor immediately above. A first horizontal rail 24 is secured to vertical member 18 of support post 12. Optionally, and as further discussed below, a second horizontal rail 25 may also be secured to vertical member 18 of support post 12.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrates assembled fence 10 with rotating panel 14 in a stowed position located a pre-determined distance back from exterior edge 4 of the floor under construction. One end of each support arms 16 is rotatably coupled to horizontal rail 24. The opposed end of each support arms 16 is secured to rotating panel 14, thereby rotatably securing rotating panel 14 to support post 12.

In one embodiment, rotating panel 14 may be comprised of a first panel portion 26 and a second panel portion 28. Each panel portion has a generally horizontally oriented longitudinal edge such that the first and second panel portions are hingedly secured together along their respective longitudinal edges. First and second panel portions 26, 28 may thus be positioned in a folded state (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 9), or may be positioned in an unfolded or stacked state (see FIGS. 17-20). The opposed end of each support arm 16 is, thus, secured to first panel portion 26. In alternate embodiments rotating panel 14 may be a single panel.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate fence 10 in the process of being rotated away from its stowed position towards exterior edge 4 of building 1. Because vertical members 18 do not extend to the upper floor, rotating panel 14 can be rotated through an angle of approximately 180° about horizontal rail 24 mounted to support posts 5.

FIGS. 9-16 illustrates fence 10 with rotating panel 14 rotated into a first deployed configuration or position, thus partially covering exterior edge 4 of building 1. In the first deployed configuration, first and second panel portions 26, 28 of fence 10 remain folded together. Support posts 12, and support arms 16 are designed and sized such that when rotating panel 14 is in the first deployed configuration and positioned adjacent to outer edge 4 of the floor in question (as in FIG. 9 for example) support post 12 is positioned rearward of edge 4 of the floor 2 by a predetermined distance. That distance may change from application to application, depending upon the type of work that is anticipated to be undertaken along the edge of the floor and in front of the support post. It should be noted that within the context of this application, positioning rotating panel 14 “adjacent” to the outer edge 4 of floor 2 includes situations where panel 14 rests on the floor at or near its outer edge, where panel 14 is suspended immediately outward of edge 4, and where panel 14 is suspended at a distance from outer edge 4.

Where rotating panel 14 is deployed adjacent to the edge of the floor, and where work is required in the vicinity of the edge of the floor such that the rotating panel 14 is in the way or a hindrance to workers, in accordance with the invention, fence panel 14 can be rotated from its first deployed position to its stowed, interior, position. From a thorough understanding of the invention, it will be appreciated that offsetting support post 12 from the outer perimeter of the floor structure, and by mounting rotating panel 14 to first horizontal rail 24 through the use of support arms 16, there is presented a structure that enables rotating panel 14 to be both (i) deployed at the edge of the floor structure to present a required degree of edge protection; and (ii) be rotated back away from the edge of the floor to permit work to be conducted along the floor's outer edge.

Where it is desirable to remove the fence panel from a position immediately adjacent to the edge of the floor system, the panel can be simply rotated about first horizontal rail 24 to permit full access by workers and other individuals to the edge of the floor structure. When the required work has been completed, re-instigating edge protection merely requires the fence panel to be rotated back from its stowed to its deployed position. The invention thus provides a structure and a method that readily permits quick access to the edge of a floor system, followed by a quick return of the edge protection system to its full integrity.

There may be situations in which it would be desirable to enclose the entire space between adjacent floors 2, 3. In such cases, fence 10 may include additional support arms 32. As shown in FIGS. 9-12, one end of each additional support arm 32 is secured to the outer side of rotating panel 14 or, specifically, to second panel portion 28 which is folded over first patent portion 26. The other end of each additional support arm 32 includes a coupler 34 for connecting with one of the horizontal rails. As shown in FIGS. 13-16, fence 10 may also include second horizontal rail 25, secured to vertical member 18 above first horizontal rail 24. Support arms 16 extending from first panel portion 26 may also be coupled to second horizontal rail 25 through use of a brace member 150 to provide for further structural rigidity when the first panel portion is in its deployed position.

In one embodiment, first horizontal rail 24 may be secured to vertical member 18 approximately 30 inches from floor 2, and second horizontal rail 25 may be secured to vertical member 18 approximately 42 inches from floor 2. First and second horizontal rails 24, 25 may be approximately 20 feet long and secured to two supports posts 12. First and second horizontal rails 24, 25 may be secured to vertical member 18 at other distances from floor 2, may be of different lengths, and may be secured to one or more than two supports posts 12. In a further embodiment support arms 16 and additional support arms 32 may be slidably secured to first and second horizontal rails 24, 25. In this manner, rotating panel 14 may slide right or left along first and second horizontal rails 24, 25.

FIGS. 17-20 illustrate fence 10 with rotating panel 14 in a second deployed configuration or position. Second panel portion 28 of fence 10 may be rotated upwardly relative to first panel portion 26 via hinges 30 until coupler 34 of additional support arms 32 encounters and connects with second horizontal rail 25, thus supporting and holding second panel portion 28 in place (ie. in a stacked configuration) above first panel portion 26. Additional support arms 32 may alternately connect to first horizontal rail 24. In the second deployed configuration, fence 10 may partially cover exterior edge 4 of lower floor 2 and cover exterior edge 4 of upper floor 3.

FIGS. 21-26 illustrate fence 10 with rotating panel 14 in the second deployed configuration in use with an alternate building 1 having columns 5. The bottom of fence 10 may also include a rubber seal 35 (see FIG. 23 for example).

It will be understood that support posts 12 could take any one of a wide variety of different forms and structures. For example, in some cases, the support posts may be columns 5 of building 1. As shown in FIGS. 27-29, first and second horizontal rails 24, 25 may be directly secured to columns 5. In this manner, vertical members etc. are not required. As described above, support arms 16 may be rotatably coupled to first horizontal rail 24, and optionally secured to second horizontal rail 25. Additional or secondary support arm 32 may also be secured to second horizontal rail 25.

In other applications, rather than column 5, support posts 12 may be a post that does not require drilling in the floor or the ceiling, such as tension post 36. Tension post 36 may be placed in tension between the lower surface of upper floor 3 and the upper surface of lower floor 2 upon which the edge protection is desired (see FIGS. 30 and 31).

From a thorough understanding of the invention, one of skill in the art will appreciate that when such support or tension posts are utilized, it will in some instances be necessary for rotating panel 14 to be secured between two adjacent tension posts 36 with support arms 16 also being rotatably secured between two separate and adjacent support posts. In that manner, rotating the rotating panel can be accomplished without interfering with tension post 36 itself, since the rotating fence panel may move between the two adjacent posts. As well, because tension posts 36 extend to upper floor 3, first and/or second horizontal rails 24, 25 may be secured thereto at different heights.

FIGS. 32-37 illustrate an embodiment of fence 10 with a variation of tension posts 36. In the embodiment shown, tension post 36 includes a locking mechanism 38, an inner tube 40, and outer tube 42, and the ends of tension post 36 each include a pin 44. The floor-to-ceiling tension posts 36 are anchored by drilling a hole into the floor and ceiling. Pins 44 may then be inserted into the holes as shown in FIGS. 35-37. Pins 44 in the holes help to prevent the ends of tension posts 36 from sliding.

In alternate applications, tension post 36 may include a pin at one of its ends. Pin 44 may, instead of being positioned beside tension post 36, be positioned within and extend from, the end of tension post 36.

In further alternate applications, rather than pins, tension posts 36 may be coupled to the floor and the ceiling using anchors.

FIG. 34 shows post locking mechanism 38 in detail. In the depicted embodiment, locking mechanism 38 includes a threaded bolt 46 and a tube ring 48. Threaded bolt 46 may be permanently coupled to outer tube 42 and may be threaded and inserted into tube ring 48. Tube ring 48, in turn, may be secured to inner tube 40. Turning threaded bolt 46 drives tube ring 48 away from outer tube 42 and helps to slide inner tube 40 relative to outer tube 42. In this manner, inner tube 40 may be lifted, for example, by a few millimeters, into contact with the ceiling, thus securing post 36 between the floor and the ceiling. That is, bolt 46 pushes ring 48 on one side of the ring. Ring 48 then bites or grabs inner tube 40 and travels upwardly with inner tube 40. Optionally, tube ring 48 may freely move up or down along inner tube 40. In this manner, the depicted embodiment of tension post 36 does not involve a spring.

In alternate applications, however, locking mechanism 38 of tension post 36 may instead include a spring (not shown) operatively coupled between inner tube 40 and outer tube 42 to separate them and provide tension to tension post 36 between the floor and the ceiling. As in the case of the earlier described embodiments, first and second horizontal rails 24, 25 may be attached to tension posts 36, and rotating panel 14 may be attached and secured to first and second horizontal rails 24, 25.

In yet further applications, combinations of different types of support posts 12 may be used together.

The present invention may be used by itself and/or in combination with guiding booths for cocoon self climbing screens. The described fence may be installed and provide protection until such self climbing screens are in place.

For example, “shoes” for climbing screens, or “cocoons”, are typically secured to a floor. These shoes are usually secured approximately three feet from the outer edge of the concrete floor slab, making sealing around each shoe difficult if not generally impossible. Advantageously, the brackets or support posts of the present invention can be secured around the sides of the shoes with the fence panels positioned inside of the building, for example, some three feet from the edge.

The fence can be rotated to its stowed configuration to allow a user to install a window sill track 6 at or adjacent the outer edge of the floor. The user can also install a window track 6 on an adjacent upper floor. When doing so, the user may be required to use a ladder or a similar apparatus. The present system may thus also provide load/fall protection as well.

As understood from the attached Figures, second panel portion 28 may be held at an angle to first panel portion 26 (i.e. they need not be parallel) and upper floor 3. This angle can permit objects falling from upper floor 3 to be caught by the fence panel and to be directed onto lower floor 2, thereby preventing the object from falling to the ground.

FIG. 38 shows yet a further embodiment of the invention where assembled fence structures 10 are positioned on adjacent floors, with a net or netting 100 connecting the lower edge of a fence panel on one floor with either the upper edge of a fence panel or with the support arms 16 of a fence structure 10 on the floor immediately below. In this manner debris that may fall from a floor can be trapped or caught by the net, preventing the debris from falling to the ground. Alternately, any such debris may be deflected to fall onto the floor immediately below rather than permitting the debris to fall fully to the ground. In an embodiment the net 100 may be rolled up and supported or stored on the fence panel if its use is not immediately required. Further, net 100 may simply extend from the lower edge of a fence panel on one floor to the surface of the floor immediately below, or may be draped or otherwise attached or secured to a fence panel, support post, or other structure on a floor immediately below such that debris falling into the net is caught and prevented from falling to the ground where it could cause damage or injury.

It will thus be appreciated that the present invention can provide edge protection to a floor of a building under construction, while presenting versatility to allow access to the vicinity of the floor next to its edge by rotating the fence between a stowed and a deployed position. It is to be understood that what has been described are the preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

It is to be understood that were the specification or claims refer to relative terms, such as “front,” “rear,” “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” and “right” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly” etc.), such reference is used for the sake of clarity and not as terms of limitation, and should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or the method to be operated in a particular orientation. Terms, such as “connected,” “connecting,” “attached,” “attaching,” “join” and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

Methods of the instant disclosure may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

For purposes of the instant disclosure, the term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a ranger having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. Terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) should be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise. Absent a specific definition and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be ±10% of the base value.

When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded.

It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility).

Still further, additional aspects of the instant invention may be found in one or more appendices attached hereto and/or filed herewith, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set out at this point.

Thus, the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While the inventive concept has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain illustrative embodiments in relation to the drawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. An edge protection fence for positioning adjacent to the edge of a floor of a building under construction, the fence comprising: one or more support posts securable to a surface of the floor, and a fence panel rotatably mounted to the one or more support posts, wherein the fence panel is rotatable about a horizontal axis between a deployed position and a stowed position, when in the deployed position the fence panel being generally vertically oriented and positioned adjacent to the edge of the floor of the building to provide edge protection, when in the stowed position the fence panel having been rotated away from the edge of the floor of the building by a predetermined distance.
 2. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 1 comprising two support posts having a first rail extending there between, the first rail oriented generally parallel to the floor of the building and comprising the horizontal axis, the fence panel mounted to the first rail and rotatable between the deployed and the stowed positions through rotating the fence panel about a longitudinal axis of the first rail.
 3. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 2 comprising support arms having first ends rotatably coupled to the first rail and opposed second ends secured to the fence panel.
 4. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support posts, when secured to the surface of the floor, have a vertical height, when measured from the surface of the floor, less than that of the fence panel when the fence panel is in the deployed position.
 5. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a second rail mounted to and extending between the two support posts, the second rail being parallel to the first rail.
 6. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fence panel comprises a first panel portion and a second panel portion, each panel portion having a horizontally oriented longitudinal edge, the first and second panel portions hingedly secured together along their respective longitudinal edges.
 7. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 6 comprising secondary support arms having first ends securable to the second panel portion and second ends releasably securable to the second rail to maintain the second panel portion in a vertically stacked configuration relative to the first panel portion when the second panel portion is rotated relative to the first panel portion about the hinged connection, and when the first panel portion is in the deployed position.
 8. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 5 including braces extending between the support arms and the second rail to maintain the first panel portion in the deployed position.
 9. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support posts comprise tension posts extending from the floor surface to the ceiling of an immediately adjacent upper floor.
 10. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a net secured to the first panel portion, when the first panel portion is in the deployed position the net extending downwardly from the floor of the building under construction to direct debris that may fall from that floor onto an immediately adjacent lower floor.
 11. An edge protection fence for positioning adjacent to the edge of a floor of a building under construction, the fence comprising: one or more support posts securable to a surface of the floor; a fence panel rotatably mounted to the one or more support posts; and a net secured to the fence panel; wherein the fence panel is rotatable about a horizontal axis between a deployed position and a stowed position, when in the deployed position the fence panel being generally vertically oriented and positioned adjacent to the edge of the floor of the building to provide edge protection, when in the stowed position the fence panel having been rotated away from the edge of the floor of the building by a predetermined distance, and wherein when the fence panel is in the deployed position the net extending downwardly from the floor of the building under construction to direct debris that may fall from that floor onto an immediately adjacent lower floor.
 12. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 11 comprising two support posts having a first rail extending there between, the first rail oriented generally parallel to the floor of the building and comprising the horizontal axis, the fence panel mounted to the first rail by a pair of support arms having first ends rotatably coupled to the first rail and opposed second ends secured to the fence panel so that the fence panel is rotatable between the deployed and the stowed positions through rotating the fence panel about a longitudinal axis of the first rail.
 13. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a second rail mounted to and extending between the two support posts, the second rail being parallel to the first rail, wherein the fence panel comprises a first panel portion and a second panel portion, each panel portion having a horizontally oriented longitudinal edge, the first and second panel portions hingedly secured together along their respective longitudinal edges.
 14. The edge protection fence as claimed in claim 13 comprising secondary support arms having first ends securable to the second panel portion and second ends releasably securable to the second rail to maintain the second panel portion in a stacked configuration relative to the first panel portion when the second panel portion is rotated relative to the first panel portion about the hinged connection, and when the first panel portion is in the deployed position. 